Work Text:
Regressor: Ellie
Caregiver: Joel
Age range: 2-6
*⚠️: May contain trigger for raised voice
Released in 2023
It had been a while since Ellie had regressed, but everything changed that Sunday night. Joel was off from his early morning patrols, so he was able to spend some time with Ellie. They hadn't seen each other often that week, so that probably caused Ellie to regress.
It was close to midnight and the girl refused to sleep. Joel chased after the girl several times that night, he was getting very annoyed with Ellie's stubbornness. Joel had already asked Ellie to get ready for bed a few times. He lost the lid on his emotions and ended up raising his voice.
"Ellie! Enough! Sit in the corner and think about what you've done!"- The man shouted.
At the same moment, Ellie ran out and sat down in the corner. The man instantly regretted shouting, shouting wouldn't do any good! Ellie had been angry and upset with Joel. He felt terrible. So he took a deep breath, got a glass of water and went to talk to Ellie.
The little girl was very upset, sitting in the corner. Joel had never shouted at her and had never grounded her. The man approaches and sits down in front of the child. The little girl thought she was going to get more complaints, but Joel surprised her.
"Ellie, I came here to apologize to you"- She raised her head in surprise. -"You're having trouble sleeping and I ignored it, I didn't validate your feelings. I ended up getting nervous, I couldn't think of any other solution. I'm not perfect, I don't think anyone is, but that doesn't justify what I did, it was very wrong of me. I upset you with that, that's no way to talk to my kiddo. Will you forgive me?"- He says
Ellie is in shock. In parts, she didn't quite understand what Joel had said, but it made her feel safe and welcome. He was looking down and Ellie ran up and hugged him.
"I'm sorry, Joel"- She said apologetically.
"It's okay, kiddo, I wasn't nice to you, I'm the one who should apologize. If I upset you, you can talk to me"- He said, hugging his little girl.
They spent a few seconds in that embrace, which was more like a dreamland. As soon as they were out of the embrace, Joel turned to Ellie.
"Ellie, what do you say we come up with another way for you to go to sleep?"- Joel asked
"Warm chocolate and cartoons!- Says Ellie, very excited.
Joel laughs at his little girl's excitement. He feels proud that she has understood his feelings, and that he has understood hers
"It's okay, I'll put just today, TV is bad before bed"- He says, laughing. -"Now, go brush your teeth and put on your pajamas, while I make you some chocolate"- Joel says.
Ellie nods and heads out, but before she can go upstairs, Joel asks.
"In the sippy, right?"- Joel says, smiling.
Ellie smiles and agrees and heads upstairs. Joel goes into the kitchen and picks up the blue and green sippy cup with handles. He takes the cocoa powder that he had gotten and the milk that he had taken that morning. He mixes it up and puts it in the milk jug, waiting for the drink to warm up. Five minutes pass, the warm chocolate is ready and Ellie comes downstairs in her pajamas and blanket, her teeth brushed.
Joel smiles that the girl is ready. She sits down on the sofa in high spirits, Joel puts the Baby Looney Tunes DVD in the player and switches off the lights, nothing too lively so as not to make the little girl more energetic. She asks for her sippy of chocolate and Joel hands it for her. She takes it and starts drinking it quickly.
"Ellie, slow down, kiddo, you're not going to run away"- Joel says, laughing.
Gradually, the chocolate diminished in the sippy and Ellie became sleepier. She snuggles up close to Joel and hugs her blanket. After a short 10-minute episode, the man realizes that Ellie is asleep. In his paternal instincts, he carries his little one to her room, without forgetting the blanket, of course. He tucks her into bed and strokes her hair.
"Good night, baby girl, I'll always try to be my best self for you"- He says, smiling.